$5M Gift Renames Athletics Building
Long-time SDSU supporters Ron and Alexis Fowler challenged the university to do more.
At the end of what was the most successful San Diego State football season in recent memory, Ron and Alexis Fowler challenged the university’s athletic department to raise the bar even higher.
The result has been a surge in philanthropic support, starting with a $5 million pledge from the Fowlers themselves. Because of their leadership, the SDSU Athletics building has been renamed the Fowler Athletics Center.
"The naming of the athletic building is a wonderful tribute to my husband, who has been a major supporter of San Diego State sports for over 30 years,” Alexis said.
“It has been so fulfilling for us to see the rise of excellence across the university and an honor to be a part of it."
The Fowler Challenge
This past December, the Fowlers, who have supported SDSU’s academic and athletic programs for more than three decades, pledged $5 million over five years to SDSU’s Athletics Excellence Fund.
The pledge came in the form of a challenge: to realize the gift, SDSU must raise a corresponding $5 million during those five years. The matching gifts can support any area of athletics, including scholarships for student-athletes.
As of April 25, the Athletics Excellence Fund has raised more than $2.2 million in challenge funds, a sure sign that the Fowlers’ gift is unifying the community in support of athletics and academic excellence at SDSU.
The new name was unveiled at an April 30 ceremony attended by the Fowlers and their family, SDSU President Stephen L. Weber, Athletic Director Jim Sterk, head football coach Rocky Long, basketball coaches Beth Burns and Steve Fisher, several student athletes and SDSU supporters, including former head football coach Ted Tollner, basketball great Bill Walton and Padres owner Jeff Moorad.
Long-time support
The Fowlers’ philanthropic support of SDSU, including this latest gift, is close to $10 million.
In 1986, Ron founded SDSU’s acclaimed Entrepreneurial Management Center, a program consistently ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Other gifts from the couple have supported the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center and scholarships for student-athletes.
